Method and apparatus for forming articles from sheet material



1,627,412 May 3 1927- H. BUCKERT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR F'ORMINGARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed Ju1.v18. 1924v 8 sheets-Sheet 1 fwla. l.. l.. .il J |l l uw I Nv N+ I7/ 1:, mahwbffyl Ma 3 192 1627412 y 7H. E. RucKER'r METHOD AND APPRTUS FOR FORMING' ARTICLES FROM SHEETMATERIAL Filed -July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,627,412 May 3 1927 H.E. RucKERT 4 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEETMATERIAL Filed Jul v118. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 May s, 1927. 1,627,412

H, E. RUCKERT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEETMATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 f May 3, 1927. 1,627,412

H, E. RUCKERT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM ySHEETMATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 y H, E. RucKERT METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8Sheets-Sheel'I 6 y H. E. RUCKERT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMINGARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet '71,627,412 May 3 1927- H, E. RucKERr METHOD AND APPARATUSl FOR FORMINGARTICLES FROM SHEET MATERIAL Filed July 18. 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 8Patented May 3, 192?.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. RU'cHERT, OP PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR, ,RY MEsNEAssIGNMENTs, lTo SANITARY PRODUCTS CORPORATION OE AMERICA, OE PHILADEL-PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA'ION OF VIRGINIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR Ieo'RIrIINGrv ARTICLES `PROM SHEET MATERIAL.

Application led July 1-8,

to provide means for forming articles from sheet material rapidlyand inlarge quantities andk also to provide means' for delivering saidarticles in nestedv relation in stacks of a predetermined numbereach,said operations being carried on automatically, and re- A ducing to aminimum the necessary manual labor and personal supervision, andconsequently the cost of production.

The more particular Objects of the invention will best be understoodfrom the following description of one form of mechanism by which theinvention may be carried into effect, as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. It will be understood, however, that the particularlconstructions and operations described and shown have been chosen forillustrative purposes merely, and that the invention, as defined by theclaims llereunto appended, may be otherwise practiced Without departingfrom its spirit and scope.

In thev drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, and ,Yl Fig. 2 a front elevation of the machine proper. Fig. 3 isa horizontalsection taken stantially on the line 3--3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rack for sub- I supporting the supplyof sheet material. the A introduction of the latter into the machinebeing illustrated diagrammatically.

Fig. 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of portions of the^ bolster,web Afeeding mechanism, and discharging mechanisun Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of -the parts shown in Fig. 5. l Fig. -7 is a rear elevationof one of the feed slides with its attached web guiding plate.

Fig. 8 is 'a' section taken substantially on the line 8 8, Fig. 6.`

Fig. V9 is a transverse vertical section, taken substantially on theline 9-9, Fig. 3, of the bolster and upper die carrier.

1924. serial No. 72s,s3.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section otone palr of cooperatingdies, illustrating the forming operation. Fig. 11 is a View similar toFig. 10, show- 1ng the dies separated, and illustrating the removal ofthe completed articles by the travel of the Web. v

Fig. 11a is a view similar to Figs. 10 and 11 illustrating the means forinsuring the removal of the completed articles from" the path ofmovement of the dies at the succeeding operationof the machine. l

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the nesting and counting mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a rear elevation, partly in section on the line 13-13, Fig.12, of the mechanism shown in the latter figure.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of the ratchetcontrolling the shifting of the nesting containers.-

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the nesting devices as viewed from theline 15--15, Figs. x2 and 3.

Fig. 16 is an end view of one-Of the con- I tainers. Y Fig. 17 is asection the line 17-17, Fig. 15.

The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a die press the frameof which asv Shown comprises a 'two-part. base 25 1 and 2) upon whichrest legs 26 supportin a bolster 27 (see also Fig. 3) from whic riseuprights 28 integrally connected at their tops by a transverse portion29. A ram 30 is formed with slides. 31'guided in ways 32 carried by theuprights 28, said ram being lifted. by springs 33 connecting said ramwith cross heads 34-supported by the transtaken substantially on verseframe portion 29,and being depressed by means'of cams 35 on a main shaft38 journalled in bearings in the upright members. '.Ihe main shaft 38 isprovided with a gear 39 which meshes with a pinion '24 on a power shaft23 journalled in brackets 22 bolted to the'uprights 28, said power shaftbeing -provided with a pulley 391 through which power iS supplied to themachine. The cams 35 cooperate'with cam rollers 40 loo` preferablycarried by adjustable posts 41 rising from the ram. Secured to the bed27 isA a bolster 42 (see also Fig. 9)' ,carrying lower combined blankingout` and forming diesl 43 which .cooperate with complementary upper dies44 in a die carrier 45 securedto the ram 30. The bolster 42 and diecarrier 45 are detachably secured, as by bolts, to the bed 27 and ram 30respectively, so as toy be readily removable for the purpose of changingthe dies, and are relatively guided by means of studs 46 depending .fromthe die' carrier 45 and sliding in openings 47 (Fig.l

9) in the bolster 42. rllhe sheet material is fed intermittently, bymechanism hereinafter described, Abetween successive depressions of theram, over the lower dies 43 and below the upper dies 44, so that, ateach stroke of the ram, a plurality of blanks are punched from the stockand said blanks simultaneously formed into articles. shown in lt ig. 3the `dies are preferably arranged in two transverse rows, the dies ineach row being staggered with respect to the dies of the other row, sothat at each stroke of the ram the dies of the iear row operate uponportions of stock left between the openings punched by the dies of thefront row. lt will be obvious, however, that the dies may be arranged ina single row` or otherwise as ma be preferred.

rllie sheet material is supplied to the machine in the form ofcontinuous webs, a plurality of which are fed through the machine insuperposed relation, so that at each stroke of the ram each pair of dieswill punch from the stock a plurality of blanks and form the same into agroup of nested articles A (see Fig, 10). As shown in Fig. 4, tive websW1, W2, W3, W4, and W5 are supplied from five reels R1, R2, R3, R4, andR5 -supported by an inclined rack 48.

ln order to relieve the intermittent web feeding mechanism, hereinafterdescribed, of the relatively heavy work-of drawing the webs from theseveral reels and leave said feeding mechanism -free for the accuratecontrol of the webs during their passage between the dies, said webs aredrawn from their respective reels and' introduced into the machinein thedesired superposed position by means of a pair of feed rollers .49journalled in bearings in brackets 50 supported by the bed 27, saidrollers being connected with one another by gears 51 (Figs. 2 and 3) andcontinuously rotated at a speed equal to the resultant speed of travelof the web under the action of the intermittent feeding mechanism. Asshown,l

nected by a crossed belt 63 with a relatively large pulley 64 on a shaft65 journalled in brackets 66 bolted to tlie uprights 28. The shaft 65 isprovided with a relatively .small pulley 67 connected by a belt 68 .witha relatively large pulley 69 on the main shaft 38. As shown in Figs. 1and 3, the variable speed transmission device 6() comprises a pair ofdouble cone pulleys 70 on the shafts 59 and 61 connected by a belt 71the engagement of which with said pulleys is controlled by a shifter 72operated by a screw 73 provided with a hand wheel 74. By operating thehand wheel 74 the relative speeds of rotation of the shafts 59 and 6lmay be determined, and the speed of rotation of the feed rollers 49 verydelicately controlled. rllhis variable speed mechanism is of well knownconstruction and hence a further detailed description thereof is not.deemed necessary. Between the feed rollers 49 and the intermittentfeeding mechanism, the compound web W, formed by the seveial superposedwebs W1, W2, etc., passes between a pair of idle rollers 75 adapted tosupport between them a slack portion B of the web in the form of adepending loop or festoon. will at all times be sufficient to permit theoperation of the intermittent feeding mechanism, and this amount may bekept substantially constant by controlling or varying, from time totime, the speed of rotation of the feed rollers` 49 by operation of thehand wheel 74.

The mechanism for intermittently feeding the web (Figs. l-to 3 and 5 to8) comprises four slides 76, said slides being disposed in pairs locatedrespectively at opposite sides of the web, and the slides of each pairbeing disposed respectively at the front and rear of the dies, as shownin Fig. '3. The two slides of each pair are mounted for longitudinalmovement on a guide 77, said guide being carried by plungei's 78 (Fig.9) mounted for vertical movement in the bolster 42. Each of theplungei's 78 is formed with an axial opening to receive a spring 79supported by a tliiinble 80 carried by the bolster, the upward movementof said plunger, under the influence of its spring 79, being limited byengagement of a shoulder 81 thereon with a plate 82 secured to the upperface of the bolster. The spring 79'and plunger 78 constitute means forresiliently supporting vthe guides 77 whose normal position is fixed bythe stop plates 82, but which are depressed at eacli stroke of the .ramby abutment studs 83 on the die carrier 45. The slides 76 of each pairare rigidly connected with each other by a rod 99, while the forwardandrear slides of the respective pairs are rigidlv connected bytransverse plates 100 having guide slots 101 through which the Vweb Theamount of slack B provided passes, said rods 99 and plates 100 connect#ing the several slides into a substantially rigid frame which isreciprocated as a unit on the guides 77 to effect the feeding ofthe web,as hereinafter explained.

Each of the slides 76 is provided with means for gripping and releasingthe adjacent edge of the web lV, said means as herein shown comprising afixed gripper member 84 secured to the slide and a cooperating pivotedgripper memberl 85 in the form of a dog carried by a rock' shaft 86journalled in the corresponding slide 76 and having fast thereon an arm87. The arms of the gripper dogs of each pair are con-y nected bya rod88, while the arm 87 of the gripper on the 'forward slide each pair isextended upwardly above its point of connection with the rod 88 and hasconnected therewith the rear end of an operar.'- ing rod 89. It 'will beobvious that longitudinal movement of the rods 89 toward the rear ofthemachine, or toward the right in Figs. 5 and 6, will cause the gripperdogs 85 to grip both edges of the web in front of and behind the diesand advance said web, while longitudinal movement of the rods 89 in theopposite direction will cause said gripper dogs to release the web andthe slides to'be returned to their initial position.

The operating rods 89 are connected at their forward ends to arms 90which are longitudinally adjustable in clamps 91 secured to a rock shaft92 in bearings 93 which are vertically adjustable in slots in thebrackets 66 by means of adjusting screws 94. Between the clamps 91 (Fig.z) the rock shaft 92 has fast thereon a third clamp 95 in which isadjustably mounted an arm 96 connected atits upper end by a rod 97 witha crank pin 98 on the main shaft 38. It Will be seen that by adjustingthe arms 90 and 96 longitudinally in the clamps 91 and 95, and by alsoadjusting the bearings 93 in the brackets 66 if necessary, the stroke ofthe slides can be varied in accordance with the requirements.

The cooperating dies 43 and 44 are formed with complementary blankingout portions 102 and 103 (Figs. 9 to 11) for punching blanks from theweb W and with complen'ientary forming portions y104 and 105 forformingvsaid blanks into articles.'

The web W is supported and guided, during itsI passage between the dies,by a stripper plate 106 having openings to receive the blanking outportions 102 of the lower dies 43, said stripper plate being supportedby springs 107 (Fig. 9) received in cavities 108 in the bolster42 andsurrounding rods 109 secured at their upperv ends to said stripperplate, guided in the bolster, and carrying at their lower endsadjustable 112 and provided at its lower end with a stop nut 117 forlimiting the upward movementof said plunger under the infiuence of thespring 114.

The dies are preferably heated in order to enable them to operate uponand shape dry, or untempcred stock, any suitable heatingv means beingemployed. As herein shown the forming portions of the dies are 'providedwith peripheral grooves to receive electric heatingV elements or coils118.J

Vvlhen the ram 30 descends, carrying with it the upper dies 44, theblanking out portion 103 of each upper die cooperates with the blankingout portion. 102 of the corresponding lower die to punch from the stocka plurality of. blanks, the stockv being clamped, during the blankingout operation. between the shaping portion 105 of the upperdie and theplunger 112 of the lowerdie, and the ejector pin 111 being forcedbackwardly into the upper die.' As the ram continues to descend, theplunger 112 is forced downwardly against. the tension of the spring 114,and the blanks are shaped into the' desired articles A, as shown in Fig.

10. The shaping movement of ,the diesv causes the web W and stripperplate 106 to be depressed by the ,blanking out portion 103 of the upperdie, the guides 77 and feed -slides being simultaneously depressed bythe abutment studs 83 to correspond with the depression of the web. Asthe ram rises, the stripper plate 106 and guides 77 are restored totheir normal positions by the springs 107 and 79, while the completednested-articles A are lifted out of thelower die by the plunger 112,acting under the influence of the springl 114, into the plane oftheWebW'f determined by the normal position of the stripper plate,as'shown in Fig.A 11, so that, as the web is fed, said articles Willbe^engaged by the edge of the` opening C from which the blanks werepunched and thereby removed from the dies over the u stripper plate bythe travel of the web.

The amount of travel of the web between vsuccessive operations of thedies is relatively small, in order to reduce the waste to a minimum,while the upper edges of the articles' A,` if the latter be oftheflaring form shown, tend to overhang the edges of the openings C inthe'web,`said articles lagging behind the Web somewhat since they, intheir finished form, are somewhat smaller than the openings from whichtheir blanks have been punched. ln order to prevent the overhangingedges of each set of articles formed by the forward row of dies frombeing struck by the upper dies of said row upon the next succeedingdescent of the latter, special means are provided for removing saidarticles from the path of movement of said dies. As shown in Figs. 9 and11a, said means comprises a set of dogs 5, equal 1n number to the diesof the forward row, said dogs being pivoted to studs 6 on the upper diecarrier and being formed with Shoulders 7 which engage said studs andlimit the downward swinging` movement oi' said dogs which normallyassume, under the influence of gravity, a downwardly and rearwardlyinclined-position. As the upper die carrier descends, vsaid dogs engagethe formed articles and, as they are swung upwardly on their pivots,push said articles rearwardly out of the way of the descending` dies.Similar dogs may, if desired, be provided for'the articles formed by therear row of dies, but in the construction shown said last named articlesare discharged from the stripper plate 106 prior to the next descent ofthe upper dies, as will now be explained.

As the articles A formed by the several sets of dies reach the rear edgeof the stripper plate and the web passes through the guide slot 101 ofthe plate 100, said articles A fall from the openings C in the web lVupon a chute 119 (see ,particularly Figs. 5 and G) by which they aredischarged upon an endless conveyor 12 which delivers them into 'aSecond chute 11. The, conveyor 12 and chute 11 are divided transverselyof the machine by al series ot' partitions 122 (see also Fig. 3) into aseries of `compartments 27, one of said rollers being driven by a belt125 from a pulley 126 (Fig. 1) on the power .shaft 23. The chute 11 issupported by brackets 127 secured to the rear edge of the bed 27 andcarrying between them a bridge 128 (Figs. 1, 3 and 12) having aserieskof openings 129 with which the several compartments of the chute11 communicate respectively. l As will. be obvious from the foregoing,the formed articlesv A are delivered into openings 129 of the bridge 128in nested groups each of' a number corresponding to the number ot'superpoed webs from which they are formed, the number of groups sodelivered to each of the openings`129 being the same and equal to thenumber of strokes of the ram or cycles of operations of the machine. Thegroups of nested articles so delivered are in turn nested with oneanother and are automatically dividedor segregated into nested stacks ofa predetermined number each by mechanism which will now be described.

Journallcd in the brackes 127 is a transverse shaft 130 one'end of whichis extended beyond the corresponding bracket 127 and further supportedby a second bracket 131 (Figs. 2 and 13) secured thereto. Mounted on theshaft 130 between the brackets 127 is a carrier 133 (Figs. 2 and 15) fora pluraliy of sets of containers 134. T he number of containers in eachset is equal to the number ol' dies, and consequently to the number ofgroups of articles formed at each cycle of operations ot' the machine,and the several groups ot' containers are disposed radially about theshaft 13() and are arranged to be.

therefrom, the shaft 130 being automatically and periodically rotatedfor ,this purpose by mechanism hereinafter described when the severalcontainers of each set have received cylindrical form. Each of saidcontainers is split longitudinally into two sections, one

. of which, designated by the numeral 136 in lugs. 15 to 17, is boltedoriotherwise fixed, together with a U-shaped hinge member 137, to theend of one of a series of radial arms 135 on the carrier 133, the end ofsaid arm `forming the bottom of the container. rllhe other section 138of each container has bolted or otherwise secured thereto, a U-shapedhinge member 139, ,the hinge` members 137 and 139 oi the correspondingcontainers of contiguous sets having overlapping lugs connected by ahinge pin 140, whereby the movable section of each container is hingedto the fixed section of the contiguous container. The hinged section 138of each container is provided wifh projecting lugs 141, whereby it isguided into alincment with the corresponding fixed section 136 to closethe container, which is held in closed position by a bail 142 hinged at143 to/ the fixed section and surrounding the movable section. Byreleasing .the bail 142 of any container, said container maybe opened byswinging aside its hinged section 138, and the stack of nested articlesremoved therefrom.

.The articles are packed or nested in the several containers by means ofa set of reciprocatingplungers 144' (Figs. 1, 3 and 12) whichoperatethrough the openings 129 in the bridge 128 'and are carried bystems 145 guided in a transverse bar 146 (Figs. 1 and 3) supported atits ends by the brackets 127. The stems 145 are connected to atransverse rod 17vwhich is engaged at its ends by the bifurcated ends ofa pair of arms 1 8 on a rock shaft 19 journalled at its ends inthebrackets 127. The rock shaft 19 is 4.provided at its end with a thirdarm 15 connected by a rod 151 with one arm of'a bell crank 4 pivoted at8 to a bracket 9 on the bed 27. The other arm of the bell crank 4 isprovided with an abutment stud 1 which is engaged by a cooperatingabutment stud 2 on the ram 30 .at each stroke of the latter, therebydepressing the plungers'144 to pack the articles in the containers 134.The stroke of the plungers 144 is constant, being sufficient to pack andcompress to the desired extent the articles in the containerswhen thelatter have received a predetermined number of said articles.

The mechanism for rotating the shaft 130 and carrier 133, to bring asecond set of containers 134 into operative posiion under the bridge 128when the containers of a first set have received lthe desired number ofarticles, is illustrated in Figs. 1, 12, 13 and 14. Keyed to the shaft130 between the bracket 131 and the adjacent bracket 127 is the hub of avlocking disk 157 having in its periphery 'a series of notches 158corresponding in number and angular position to the sets of con. tainersand each adapted to receive the end of a locking pawl 10 pivoted on astud 13 projecting from the bracket 127, said pawl acting normally tohold the shaft 130 and carrier 133 against rotation. The pawl 10 is heldin locking-position by a spring 168 surrounding the stud 13, one end ofsaid spring being secured tto a collar 186 on said stud, and the otherbeing secured to a bell crank 14 pivoted on said stud and one arm ofwhich is rigidly connected with said pawl by a screw bolt 187. Secured,as by screw bolts 161, to the hub of the locking disk 157 is anoperating disk 162 also lformed in its periphery with a series ofnotches 163 corresponding4 in number and arrangement to the sets otcontainers. Rotatably mounted on the hub of the locking disk 157 is acontrolling disk 164 in the form of a ratchet having on its edge aseries of teeth 16 formed by relatively shallow notches (Fig. 14) andone or more relatively deep notches 166. The ratchet 164-is held againstretrograde movement by a holding pawl 167 pivoted to the stud 13 and isperiodically advanced, at each cycle of operations lof the machine, by`an operating pawl 2() on a swinging pawl carrier 170 pivotally mountedon the shaft 130,

said pawl being held in engagement with the ratchet by a'sprlng 171connecting the same with said pawl carrier. The ratchet 164 is heldagainst overrunning undervthe inliuence of the pawl 2() by a brake band172 secured at one end to an angular arm 173 projecting from the bracket127 said brake and passing about the hub of the ratchet 164 and carrying,at its opposite end a suitable weilght 174. The pawl carrier 170 com.-

prises a bell crank fulcrumed onthe shafty 130, the pawl 20 beingcarried by onearm of said bell crank, the other arm of which is iadjustably connected to one end of a rod 175 connected at its oppositeend to an arm 176 on a rock shaft 21 journal'led in a bracket 178'Conthe bed 27, said rock shaft having al second arm y17 9 connected by arod 180 with a crank pin 181 projecting from a crank disk 182 on themain shaft 38.

At each cycle of operations of the machine, the pawl carrier 170 isoscillated through an angular distance corresponding substantially tothe angular spacing of the sets of containers l134, and by engagementnotches forming t e teeth 16 it is held outof engagement with theoperating disk 162 but when said pawl is engaged with the deep notch 166it is permitted also to engage one of the notches 163 in said disk 162'so as to turn the latter and with it the shaft 13() and carrier 133,bringing into operative position another set of containers 134. The pawl2O is provided with an arm 183 having a lug 184 which cooperates with alug 186 on the' free arm of the bell crank 14. When the pawl 2O isengaged with the shallow notches .of the ratchet 164 the 1u 186 is outof the path of movementA of t e lug 184 which moves idly thereover.When, however, said pawl is engaged with the ldeep notch 166, and with anotch 163 in the operating disk 162, the lng 184 is brought into aposition to engage the lug 186, so that upon oscillation of the pawlcarrier -170 the locking pawl 10 is lifted, thereby disengaging thelocking disk 157 and unlocking the carrier. The notches 163 in theoperating disk 162 are of a sufficient width to permit a small amount oflost motion between said disk and the pawl 20, as indicatedat 188 inFig. 12, so that said -pawl is given an opportunity to disen-l posedindividual webs lpasses through the idle rollers 75 between which andthe feed rollers 49 a slack portion B of said web depends. The web IV isthen intermittently fed between the dies 43 and 44 by the feed slides76, the material advanced at each operation of said feed slides beingdrawn' feed slide 76 are depressed, as indicated in.

Fig. 10, said parts being, however, lifted substantiallyto the top ofthe lower dies 43 when the ram asoends, as indicated in Fig.

11, and the formed articles A being lifted by the plungers 112 to thelevel of the upper surface of the stripper plate 106l upon which the-webW is guided. When, therefore, the

web W is again advanced, the articles A,Y

which still remain in the openings C in the web from which the blankswere punched, are carried forward with the web to the rear edge of thestripper plate where they fall from the holes C upon the chute 19. Thescra portion-of the web W passes rearward- 1y tiirough the slot 101 inthe rear guide plate 100 and, in order to prevent the same frominterfering with the nesting and count# ing mechanism, vmay, if desired,be passed over a roller 200' (Fig. l1) journalled in the brackets 127and rotated by a belt 201 from a ulley 202 on the main shaft 38.AThearticles A slide down the chute 119 onto the conveyor 120 in theirrespective compartments formed by the partitions 122, from which theyare discharged by the several compartments of the chute 11 throngh thecorresponding openings 129 in the bridge 128, intol the respectivecontainers 134 of the set then in operative positionb'eneath saidbridge', being packed into said containers in nested relation by theplungers 144. At

each operation ofthe machine, the ratchet 164 is advanced by the pawl20, and after a predetermined number of operations said pawl enters thenotch 166 which permits the same to engage one of the notches 163 in thedisk 162. yThe next operation of said pawl, therefore, causes the sameto release ithe locking pawl 10 and turn the shaft 130 and carrier133.through` a sufficient arc'to re.

move the set'ofv filled carrier 134 from `be neath" the bridge 128y andbringl the next succeeding set` into position beneath said nestedarticles.'

ers are then released, the hinged sections .138 of said containers swungaside, the

stack of nested articles removed, and the containers closed,

'It will be seen that` a machineconstructed in accordance with theinvention may be made of large capacity, so that its rate of productionwill be very high in proportion to the amount ofv manual labor orpersonal supervision required, the machine being entirely automatic inits operation and delivering the finished articles in nested stacks of apredetermined number each ready for shipment, so that the only labor orsupervision required is the renewal of the stock when exhausted and theremoval of the fully completed, nested, and counted articles. As hereinshown, the machineis provided with five sets of cooperating dieseachoperating upon five superposed webs of material, so as to producetwenty-live articles at each cycle of operation of the machine, thenesting and countingmechanism including five sets of containers, eachset having six containers, (the number of sets corresponding to thenumber of sets of dies), the several sets being moved successively intooperative position after each fifty operations of the machine, so thatat each movement of the container carrier twelve, hundred and fiftyarticles will be delivered in live nested stacks of two hundred andlifty each.

Having thus describedY my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, thecombination with means for supplying a'plurality of sh'eets of saidmaterial in superposed relation, of punch- `ing and forming meansmovable together for first punching blanks from all of said sheetssimultaneously and then forming said blanks into a corresponding numberof nested articles.

'webs simultaneously and then formingsaid blanks into a correspondingnumber 3. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, thecombination with a reciprocating die 'press having combined blanking outand forming dies one movable relatively to the other and one of the dieshaving a part movable with the other die during the forming operation,of means for supplying a plurality of sheets of'said ma` teri'al andfecdingrthe same in superposed position betweensaid dies.

p 4. 'In a maclune of the class described, the

- combination of means for Supplying a plurality of sheets of material-in superimposed relation, cutting and forming means Asimultaneouslymovable for first cutting blanks from all of said sheets and thenforming the same into a corresponding v`number of nested articles, andyielding means for centrally supporting the nested articles during theforming operation.

5. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, thecombination with in termittently operating blankiiig out devices, ofreciprocating means for feetjlirg a web of material intermittentlybetween successive operations of said devices, and rotary means forfeedingsaid web continuously to said intermittent feeding means.

6. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, -iiicombinatiomnieans for Supplying a plurality of webs of said niaterial insuperposed relation,.intermittently operating devices for punchingblanks from all of said webs simultaneously and forming said blanks intoa corresponding number of nested articles, means for feeding saidsupei'posed Webs intern'iittently between successive operations of saiddevices, and means for feeding said superposed webs contiiiuously tosaid intermittent feeding means.

7 In a macliinefor forniing articles from sheet material, thecombination with intcrf mittently operating blanking out devices, ofmeans for feeding a web of material intermittently between successiveoperations of saidv devices, means for feeding said web continuously tosaid intermittent feeding means, and means for supporting a slackportion of said web between said continuous feeding means and-saidintermittent feeding means.

8. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, thecombination with intermittently operating blanking out devices, of meansfor feeding a web of material inter mittently between successiveoperatioi'is of `said devices, and a pair of continuously rotatingrollersfor feeding said web to said intermittent feeding means.

9. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, thecombination with intermittently operating blanking out devices, of`means for feeding a web ot' material intermittently between successiveoperations of said devices,y a pair of continuously rotate ing rollersfor feeding said web to said intermittent feeding means, and a pair ofidle rollers between said feed rollers and intermittent feeding means,said feed rollers and idle rollers supporting between them a slack-portion of said web.

and also for bodily moving said sheets in the direction of cutting.

ll. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, thecombination with intermittently operatingblanking out devices, of areciprocating slide having web gripping means thereon for feeding a webof said material intermittently between successive opeiatioiis of saiddevices, and .means for feeding said web continuously to said slide.

l2. In a machine foi' forming articles from sheet material, thecombination with intermitten'tly operating blaiikiiig-out devices, of a'reciproca-ting slide having web-gripping means thereon for feeding a webof said material intermittently between successive operations of saiddevices, and a. pair of continuously rotating rollers for feeding saidweb to said feed slide.

.f l 13. In a machine for forming articles from sheet materia-l, -thecombination with intermittently operating blanking out devices, of aslide having web gripping means thereon, means for reciprocating saidslide to feed a web of material between successive' opera,- tions ofsaid devices, said means having provision for adjusting the stroke ofsaid slide, and means for feeding said web continuously to said slide.

lll. In a machine for forming articles from Vsheet material, the.combination with intervopeiating dies, of slides located respectively atopposite sides of said dies, web gripping devices carried by saidslides, and means for reciprocating said slides in unison to feed a webof said material past said dies.

1'6. In a machine for forming articles from.

slieet` material, the combination with cooperating dies, of means forfeeding aweb of said material past said dies comprisingv slides locatedat opposite sides of said dies, a web gripping dog pivoted to each ofsaid slides, a iod connecting said dogs, and means connected'to oneofsaid dogs for reciprocating said slides.

. 17. In a machine of thecharacter described, web feeding mechanismcomprising slides located respectively at opposite sides of the web, aplate connecting said slides and having a slot through which 'the Webpaises, devices carried'by said slides for gripping the edges of theweb, and means for reciprocating said slides in unison.

18. In a machine of the character' described, web feeding mechanismcomprising a slide having web gripping means, a rock shaft, clampscarried by said rock shaft, an arm adj ustably secured to said rockshaft by one of said clamps and operatively connected with said slide, asecond arm adjustably secured to said rock shaft by another of saidclamps, and operating means connected with said second arm.

19. In a machine of the character described, Web feeding mechanismcomprising a slide having Web gripping means, a rock shaft, anadjustable bearinor for saidrock shaft, clalnps carried by said rockshaft, an

arm adjustably secured to saidy rock shaft byone of said clamps andoperatively connected with said slide, a second arm adjustably securedto said rock shaft by another of said clamps, and operatingmeansconnected With said second arm.

20. In a machine for-forming articles from sheet materia-l, incombination, means for feeding a Web of said material, devices forpunching blanks from said web and forming the same into a-rticles, andmeans for supporting said Web, said parts being constructed and arrangedto cause said articles to remain in the openings in said web from whichsaid blanks have been punched and to be withdrawn from the machine bythe travel of the Web.

21. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, thecombination With means for feeding a plurality of Webs of said materialin supeiposed relation and for supporting the same, of` devices forpunching blanks from all of said Webs simultaneously and forming saidblanks into a corresponding number of nested articles and includingmeans for supporting the articles in theA plane of the Web. i

22. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, thecombination With mecha'- nism for feeding a web of said matrial and forsupporting the same, of devices for punching blanks from said web andforming the same into articles, said Web-feeding mechanism comprisingslides located respectively at opposite sides of said web beyond saidpunching and Aforming devices, a plate connecting said slides and havinga slot through which the web passes, devices carried by said slidesforgripping the edges of the web, and means for reciprocating saidslides in unison.

23. In a machine for forming'articles from sheet material, incombination, means for feeding a web of said material, a fixed lowerdie, a reciprocating'upper die cooperating with said lower die to punchblanks from said web and form the same into articles, and a movablysupported stripper plate as- Vsociated with said lower die and overwhich from sheet material, in combination, a. re-

ciprocating slide provided with gripping means for engaging and feedinga web of said material, a resiliently'supportel guide Vfor said slide, afixed lower die, a recipr0cating upper die cooperating with said lowerdie to punch blanks from said web and form the same into articles, and aresiliently supported stripper plate associated with said lower. die andover which said web is fed.

6. In a machine for forming articlesY from sheet material, incombination, a bed, a ram, cooperating punching dies carried by said bedand ram respectively, a resiliently supported stripper plate cooperatingwith the dies on said bed, guides resiliently supported on said bed, anda slide mounted to reciprocate onsaid guides and provided with grippingmeans for engaging and feeding a web of material past said dies.

27. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, incombination, means for feeding a Web of said material, devices forpunching blanks from said Web and forming the same into articles, meansfor supporting said web, said parts being constructed and arranged tocause said articles to remain in theopenings in said Web from which saidblanks have been punched and to be Withdrawn from sa'id punching andforming devices by the travel of the web, a chute into which saidarticles fall from saidopenings, and a conveyor for receiving saidarticles from said chute and discharging the same from the machine.

28. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, incombination, means for feeding a web of said material, devices forpunching blanks from said web and forming the same into artic-les, meansfor supporting the articlesin the plane of said `Web, means for guidingthe Web out of the' machine, and means for permitting discharge of saidarticles through the web'.

29. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, incombination, devices for punching blanks from a web of said material andforming the same into articles, a pair of slides located respectively atopposite sides of the Web, devices carried by said slides for grippingthe edges of the web, means for reciprocating said slides in unison tofeed the web past said punching and forming devices, a plate connectingsaid slides and having a slotV through which the cany web assesbeyondsaid punching and formfrom sheet material,the combination with devicesfor feeding a web of said material and for' normally supporting and`guiding' the same in a redetermined plane, of de'- vices for'punchingblanks from said web and forming the same into articles,'said deviceshaving means'for restoringtlie formed arti- '.cles to the normal planeof said web, wherey they are withdrawn from the machine by the travel ofthe web.

31. In a` machine for forming articles? from sheet material, thecombination `with devices for feeding a web of said material i and fornormally supporting and guiding the' same in a predetermined plane, ofcooperating dies for punching blanks from said web and forming` thesaine into articles, said dies being provided respectively with ejectingmeans for restoring the formed articles tothe normal lane of said web,whereby they are with rawn from said dies by the .travel of the web.

32. In a machine for forming articles from sheet material, incombination, a bed, a ram, lower and upper cooperating blankino' out andforming dies carried by said bed and ram respectively, devices forfeeding a web of material past said 'dies and for normal- .ly supportingand guiding the same in a predetermined plane, an ejector associatedwith the upper die for releasing the formed articles there-from, and a,lifter associated with the lower diefor restoring the formed articlesto the normal lane Jof said web,

whereby they are with rawn from said dies- V by the travel of the web. v33. In 4 a. machine for forming articles from .sheet material, incombination, means forl supporting and feeding a'web of said material,'devices for punching blanks from said web and forming the same intoarticles,

said parts being constructed and arranged tocause said articles toremain inthe openings in said web from which said 'blanks have beenpunched and to be withdrawn from the machine by 'the travel of the web,`and add-- tional means for removing said articles from said punching andforming devicesin the direction of movement of theweb.. ,l

34. In a machine for formingmrticles lfrom sheet material, incombination, means for feeding and guiding a web of said material, afixed lower die, an' upper diecooperating with said lower die to punchblanks from said web and form` vthe same into .ar-

ticles, a reciprocating carrier for said upper die, said parts beingconstructed and arranged toca-use' said articles to remain vin theopenings in' said web from which said vblanks have been punched and tobe withmaterial, meansV for intermittently moving the said web, andadditional means for moving the formed articles relative to, and in thedirectionof the moving web.

3 6. In a machine for forming articles from. sheet material, thecombination with means for feeding a plurality of webs of said materialin superposed relation, of-

nieans for punchin blanks :from allf said webs simultaneous y andforming said blanks into a corresponding number of nested articles,means for restoring said articles to the openings in the web from whichsaid blanks have been punched, and means for moving said articlesrelative to and in the direction of movement of said web.

37. The herein described method of forming articles from sheet materialwhich consists in supplying a plurality of sheets of said material insuperposed relation, punching blanks from all of said sheets and:torining said blanks into a group of nested articles While supportingthe blanks in the` plane ofthe sheets.

38. The herein Adescribed method of forming articles from sheet materialwhich consists in supplying a plurality of sheets of said material insuperposed relation, punching blanks from, all of said sheetssimultaneously and simultaneously forming said blanks into a group ofnested articles, restoring said group of articles to the alined holes inthe superposed sheets from which said lblanks have been punched, andmoving said sheets in unison to carry away csaid.

. group of articles. 39. The herein described method of foriningarticles from sheet material which consists in supplying a plurality ofsheets of and `moving verating dies carried b scribed, in combination, abed, a ram, coop said bed and rain tor blanking out andl orming articlesfrom a sheet ot material, and means carried by said ram for engaging theformed articles and removing them from proximity to said dies.

4l. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a bed, aram, cooperating dies carried b said bed and ram for blanking out andorming articles from a sheet of material, and means operated by said ramfor yengaging the formed articles and removing them from proximity tosaid dies.

42. lln a machine of the character described, in combination, a bed, aram, cooperating dies carried b said bed and ram for blanking out andorming articles from a sheet of material, and means carried by said ramand operated by movement thereof for engaging the formed articles andremoving them from proximity to said dies..

Legnaia t3. lin a machineot' the class described, the combination Voil?cooperating relatively movable die members, meansy for supplying a webtherebetween, and means for oper ating said die members to bodily movethe Web and to simultaneously cut and form a blank from the Web Whilemaintaining the blank in the plane of the web.

44. The combination of cooperating mechanism for cutting blanks from aweb and forming them into hollow articles, said mechanism includingreciprocating means for supporting and reciprocating the web and theblank during the forming operation.

45. The combination with an intermittently operating device for formingan. article from sheet material, of means for feeding a web of materialintermittently bel tween successive operations of said device,

and means for feeding said web continuously to said intermittent feedingmeans.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY E. RUCKERT.

